Immunotoxicity and Intestinal Effects of Nano- and Microplastics: a Review of the Literature

Overview

Journal Part Fibre Toxicol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Toxicology

Date 2020 Nov 13

PMID 33183327

Citations 99

Authors

Nell Hirt

Mathilde Body-Malapel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Together with poor biodegradability and insufficient recycling, the massive production and use of plastics have led to widespread environmental contamination by nano- and microplastics. These particles accumulate across ecosystems - even in the most remote habitats - and are transferred through food chains, leading to inevitable human ingestion, that adds to the highest one due to food processes and packaging.

Objective: The present review aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of current knowledge regarding the effects of nano- and microplastics on intestinal homeostasis.

Methods: We conducted a literature search focused on the in vivo effects of nano- and microplastics on gut epithelium and microbiota, as well as on immune response.

Results: Numerous animal studies have shown that exposure to nano- and microplastics leads to impairments in oxidative and inflammatory intestinal balance, and disruption of the gut's epithelial permeability. Other notable effects of nano- and microplastic exposure include dysbiosis (changes in the gut microbiota) and immune cell toxicity. Moreover, microplastics contain additives, adsorb contaminants, and may promote the growth of bacterial pathogens on their surfaces: they are potential carriers of intestinal toxicants and pathogens that can potentially lead to further adverse effects.

Conclusion: Despite the scarcity of reports directly relevant to human, this review brings together a growing body of evidence showing that nano- and microplastic exposure disturbs the gut microbiota and critical intestinal functions. Such effects may promote the development of chronic immune disorders. Further investigation of this threat to human health is warranted.

Citing Articles

Biological Effects of Micro-/Nano-Plastics in Macrophages.

Bianchi M, Casati L, Sauro G, Taurino G, Griffini E, Milani C Nanomaterials (Basel). 2025; 15(5).

PMID: 40072197 PMC: 11901536. DOI: 10.3390/nano15050394.

Environmental Health and Safety Implications of the Interplay Between Microplastics and the Residing Biofilm.

Wu X, He F, Xu X, Wu L, Rong J, Lin S Environ Health (Wash). 2025; 3(2):118-132.

PMID: 40012871 PMC: 11851218. DOI: 10.1021/envhealth.4c00148.

Exposure of Polystyrene Nano- and Microplastics in Increasingly Complex In Vitro Intestinal Cell Models.

Marcellus K, Prescott D, Scur M, Ross N, Gill S Nanomaterials (Basel). 2025; 15(4).

PMID: 39997830 PMC: 11858616. DOI: 10.3390/nano15040267.

Mechanisms of microplastics on gastrointestinal injury and liver metabolism disorder (Review).

Zhou L, Ran L, He Y, Huang Y Mol Med Rep. 2025; 31(4).

PMID: 39981917 PMC: 11865701. DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2025.13463.

Impact of microplastics on the human digestive system: From basic to clinical.

Wang Y, Wang X, Chen B, Yang Y, Li H, Wang F World J Gastroenterol. 2025; 31(4):100470.

PMID: 39877718 PMC: 11718642. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i4.100470.

References

Li X, Sun H, Li B, Zhang X, Cui J, Yun J . Probiotics Ameliorate Colon Epithelial Injury Induced by Ambient Ultrafine Particles Exposure. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2019; 6(18):1900972. PMC: 6755525. DOI: 10.1002/advs.201900972. View

Wu P, Huang J, Zheng Y, Yang Y, Zhang Y, He F . Environmental occurrences, fate, and impacts of microplastics. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019; 184:109612. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109612. View

Caruso G, Peda C, Cappello S, Leonardi M, Ferla R, Lo Giudice A . Effects of microplastics on trophic parameters, abundance and metabolic activities of seawater and fish gut bacteria in mesocosm conditions. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018; 25(30):30067-30083. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2926-x. View

Park E, Han J, Park E, Seong E, Lee G, Kim D . Repeated-oral dose toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and the possible implications on reproduction and development of the next generation. Toxicol Lett. 2020; 324:75-85. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.01.008. View

Koelmans A, Hazimah Mohamed Nor N, Hermsen E, Kooi M, Mintenig S, De France J . Microplastics in freshwaters and drinking water: Critical review and assessment of data quality. Water Res. 2019; 155:410-422. PMC: 6449537. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.02.054. View

Powell J, Faria N, Thomas-McKay E, Pele L . Origin and fate of dietary nanoparticles and microparticles in the gastrointestinal tract. J Autoimmun. 2010; 34(3):J226-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2009.11.006. View

Deng Y, Zhang Y, Lemos B, Ren H . Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure. Sci Rep. 2017; 7:46687. PMC: 5402289. DOI: 10.1038/srep46687. View

Corradini F, Meza P, Eguiluz R, Casado F, Huerta-Lwanga E, Geissen V . Evidence of microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from sewage sludge disposal. Sci Total Environ. 2019; 671:411-420. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.368. View

Banaee M, Soltanian S, Sureda A, Gholamhosseini A, Haghi B, Akhlaghi M . Evaluation of single and combined effects of cadmium and micro-plastic particles on biochemical and immunological parameters of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Chemosphere. 2019; 236:124335. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.07.066. View

10.

Thompson R, Olsen Y, Mitchell R, Davis A, Rowland S, John A . Lost at sea: where is all the plastic?. Science. 2004; 304(5672):838. DOI: 10.1126/science.1094559. View

11.

Lei L, Wu S, Lu S, Liu M, Song Y, Fu Z . Microplastic particles cause intestinal damage and other adverse effects in zebrafish Danio rerio and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Sci Total Environ. 2017; 619-620:1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.103. View

12.

Liebezeit G, Liebezeit E . Non-pollen particulates in honey and sugar. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2013; 30(12):2136-40. DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2013.843025. View

13.

Espinosa C, Garcia Beltran J, Esteban M, Cuesta A . In vitro effects of virgin microplastics on fish head-kidney leucocyte activities. Environ Pollut. 2017; 235:30-38. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.054. View

14.

Espinosa C, Cuesta A, Esteban M . Effects of dietary polyvinylchloride microparticles on general health, immune status and expression of several genes related to stress in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2017; 68:251-259. DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.07.006. View

15.

Zhou W, Han Y, Tang Y, Shi W, Du X, Sun S . Microplastics Aggravate the Bioaccumulation of Two Waterborne Veterinary Antibiotics in an Edible Bivalve Species: Potential Mechanisms and Implications for Human Health. Environ Sci Technol. 2020; 54(13):8115-8122. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01575. View

16.

Lebreton L, Slat B, Ferrari F, Sainte-Rose B, Aitken J, Marthouse R . Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic. Sci Rep. 2018; 8(1):4666. PMC: 5864935. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22939-w. View

17.

Iniguez M, Conesa J, Fullana A . Microplastics in Spanish Table Salt. Sci Rep. 2017; 7(1):8620. PMC: 5561224. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09128-x. View

18.

Yang D, Shi H, Li L, Li J, Jabeen K, Kolandhasamy P . Microplastic Pollution in Table Salts from China. Environ Sci Technol. 2015; 49(22):13622-7. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03163. View

19.

Wright S, Ulke J, Font A, Chan K, Kelly F . Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport. Environ Int. 2020; 136:105411. PMC: 7013824. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105411. View

20.

Sadler D, Brunner F, Plaistow S . Temperature and clone-dependent effects of microplastics on immunity and life history in Daphnia magna. Environ Pollut. 2019; 255(Pt 1):113178. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113178. View